Page 90 of Reckless Hearts

So what’s the latest goss with you? What hunks have you been hooking up with? I want all the details!

Well, I just turned down Xavier Newton tonight. Does that count?

WTF??? You turned him down?? Are you nuts?

I rub a hand across my stubble.

Yeah, Saskia, I’m starting to think I might be slightly nuts—about your brother.

Seb is the one who was adamant in Fiji that he didn’t want Saskia to know. And I’ve got to respect his wishes.

But it feels dishonest to keep this secret from her. Like I’m betraying our friendship by omission.

Don’t you think I deserve a better guy to hook up with than a multi-millionaire Emmy award-winning superhero?

Saskia and I continue to message back and forth. It’s always nice to talk to Saskia, but I’m aware I’m really just killing time while waiting for her brother to call me.

Finally, my phone lights up with an incoming call. I send a quick message to Saskia saying I’m going to bed before I fumble my phone in my eagerness to press Accept on Seb’s call.

“Hey,” Seb says. Somehow, seeing Seb’s face, even through the pixelated screen, instantly calms something inside me. It’slike coming home after a long day of pretending to be someone else.

He’s wearing his glasses, which he always wears when his eyes get tired. His chest is covered with one of his signature science pun T-shirts—this one reads:What did one tectonic plate say when he bumped into the other? Sorry, my fault.

A smile spreads across my face, and it feels like the first genuine one I’ve had all day. It’s ridiculous how just the sight of Seb can affect me like this.

“Hey. How was your lecture?” I ask.

“It was really fascinating. We discussed the ethical implications of bringing back extinct species. Like, if we resurrect the woolly mammoth, where would it live? How would it impact modern ecosystems? It’s not as straightforward as just recreating the DNA. The easiest thing is to stop species going extinct in the first place.”

I let Seb’s voice wash over me, watching his face light up with passion.

“I mean, every extinction represents the end of a unique way of life. Species evolve over millions of years, but when we lose a piece of our planet’s history that can never truly be replaced…” He pauses for a second. “Sorry, I’m ranting now.”

“No. It’s interesting,” I say.

“Anyway, how was the after-party?” he asks.

“It was a typical Hollywood party. I’m reaching the point where all Hollywood parties blend into one glittery, champagne-soaked mess.”

“Yeah, I’m finding it slightly difficult to summon much sympathy right now. Did you miss the part where I got covered with fish-flavored vomit today?”

I can’t help chuckling.

I turned down hooking up with Xavier Newton so I could talk to Seb about bird vomit.

And I couldn’t be happier with my choice.

“How much more promo stuff do you have to do forLove in Zero Gravity?” Seb asks.

“Just a few more weeks of promo stuff. I’ve got to do some reshoots forThe Gilded Trigger, and then I’m off to Iceland to filmWinter of the Heart.

“That’s the indie film, right? The historical drama.”

“Yeah, that one.”

I’ve been looking forward to this movie, hoping this will be the film my career needs to break out of the rom-com rut. But now, the negative review I read earlier circulates in my head.

“You don’t seem as enthusiastic about it as you did a few weeks ago,” Seb says with a frown.